What you say seem plausible but, as an observer not privy to things, I am not sure how one can differentiate when someone is being allowed to get away versus be

What you say seem plausible but, as an observer not privy to things, I am not sure how one can differentiate when someone is being allowed to get away versus being goaded to say incriminating things. But If you look at the written coverage at NYT about this, you will realize that in this case it is the former and not the latter. Yes one can argue that it might have been a plan to make him comfortable to talk at the interview - but yeah :). May be it is too subtle for me.